How to Make Yarn Substitutions with Confidence

When you decide to knit a project, do you buy the exact yarn called for in the pattern? Do you dive into your stash? Or do you head to your local yarn store to touch and feel and pick something that seems like it ought to work? Have you ever been disappointed with your yarn substitutions?

Not all yarns are the same—differences in plies, texture, fiber content, yardage, and more all make yarn substitution tricky. Using the Amplitude Pullover by Julia Farwell-Clay as a starting point, this guide explores how to choose yarns that will work with your pattern plus things to think about as you evaluate your swatch so you can navigate yarn substitution with confidence!

The Amplitude Pullover is the perfect sweater-weather knit. Photo by Gale Zucker

Start with the Pattern